Austin Healey has criticised the BBC after a voting mix up on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Rugby star, who came fourth on the show, said that bosses should have admitted that it was impossible to save Tom Chambers, after the judges awarded Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens the same points.

Austin Healey thinks the scoring should work differently

Austin, who was in the studio audience for Saturday night’s show, said: “I think it was an oversight on behalf of the Beeb. What they failed to realise was that it wasn’t a fair vote and maybe they should have pointed that out from the start – that it was impossible to save Tom.

“They only had two choices in the end, either put all three through or three in the dance off and that isn’t fair.”

Austin thinks the judges’ vote should be scrapped as the competition nears the final, and reckons that couples should perform the same dance in the dance off.

“Maybe towards the quarter final stage the judges shouldn’t vote, they just give comments on improvements.

“Certain dances score higher than others. Even though I had the highest salsa score I went out to a waltz that wasn’t the highest waltz of the series and the same happened to Jodie.

“I think in the dance off you should have to do a quickstep and you both do it. It levels it out a bit.”

Austin will pedal a bike in Hyde Park tomorrow, which will light up a Christmas tree at Winter Wonderland, for a Festive Favours campaign to encourage youth volunteering.

He said: “I’m all for bringing back the community spirit that we are lacking at the moment in this country, encouraging teenagers to do something for nothing, without being paid.”